‘That stupid club’ – musicians who died at 27

The tragic death of Amy Winehouse - from a suspected drugs overdose - means she joins what Kurt Cobain's mother Wendy called "that stupid club": musicians who have died at the age of 27.

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image2of18

The Rolling Stones

Brian Jones (centre), The Rolling Stones. Known for his flamboyant attire and recreational drug habits, Jones was found motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm July 3, 1969. The words in this gallery are taken from a new book, 'The 27s: The Greatest Myth Of Rock'N'Roll', by Eric Segalstada and Josh Hunter. Pic: PA Photos

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image3of18

Alan Wilson (back of shot). Acquiring the nickname “Blind Owl” owing to his extreme nearsightedness, the lead singer of American blues band Canned Heat died in California of a drug overdose September 3, 1970. Having suffered from depression, his death was reported as suicide, although this has not been clearly established. Pic: Redferns

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image4of18

Doors Doors

Jim Morrison, The Doors. Morrison was found dead on July 3, 1971 in a Paris apartment bathtub by his long-term companion, Pamela Courson. No autopsy was performed due to there being no evidence of foul play - but many rumours have arisen of an accidental overdose. Pic: PA Photos

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image5of18

JIMI HENDRIX

Jimi Hendrix. Swallowing nine German-made Secobarbital sleeping tablets in a hotel room, Hendrix vomited and asphyxiated in unconscious sleep (September 18, 1970). At the time he had been working on a new song, which included the lyric “the story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye.” Pic: PA Photos

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image6of18

JANIS JOPLIN

Janis Joplin. The big-voiced singer died of a heroin overdose, possibly combined with the effects of alcohol, on October 4, 1970. At the time she'd been working on a birthday greeting for John Lennon - the tape arrived on Lennon’s doorstep the day after she passed away. Pic: PA Photos

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image7of18

1969, Hollywood, Iggy and The Stooges

David Alexander (second right). The original bassist for The Stooges, Alexander was sacked in 1970 after showing up at the Goose Lake International Music Festival too drunk to play. He died of pneumonia February 10, 1975 after being admitted to hospital for pancreatitis, which was linked to his drinking. Pic: Getty

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image8of18

BRITAIN ROCK STAR DEATH

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image9of18

manics

Richey Edwards (second left), Manic Street Preachers. The day before a promotional visit to the US, Edwards disappeared from the London hotel where he was staying. His abandoned car was found two weeks later near the Severn Bridge. The guitarist/lyricist was declared presumed deceased in November 2008. Pic: PA Photos

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image10of18

Very ‘Eavy

Gary Thain (second left), Uriah Heep. During his last tour with the band, Thain suffered an electric shock at the Moodie Coliseum in Dallas, Texas and was seriously injured. Drug addicted, he was unable to perform properly and fired from the band. Thain later died (December 15, 1975) of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose. Pic: Getty

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image11of18

Photo of Grateful Dead & Warlocks

Ron McKernan (right). Founding member of the Grateful Dead, McKernan – a notoriously heavy drinker - was found dead (March 8, 1973) of a gastrointestinal haemorrhage at his home in California. His epitaph reads: “Pigpen was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead.” Pic: Getty

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image12of18

Pete Ham, Badfinger. After finding success in the early '70s, Welsh rockers Badfinger became embroiled in financial and managerial problems. Broken spirited, Ham hanged himself in the garage of his Surrey home on April 24, 1975. Another member of the band, Tom Evans, also committed suicide eight years later. Pic: Redferns

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image13of18

Chris Bell (left). Along with Alex Chilton, Bell led the power pop band Big Star. Leaving the band in ’72, he struggled with intense depression stemming in part from his repressed homosexuality and dependence on heroin. Bell died on December 27, 1978 after losing control of his small Triumph TR-6 sports car which struck a wooden light pole – he died instantly. Pic: Redferns

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image14of18

Jeremy Michael Ward. Sound technician and vocal operator for The Mars Volta and for the dub outfit De Facto, Ward was found dead (May 25, 2003) of an apparent heroin overdose less than a month before the release of The Mars Volta's acclaimed debut album ‘De-Loused In The Comatorium’.

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image15of18

D Boon (left). American singer, songwriter and guitarist of the Californian punk rock trio Minutemen, Dennes Boon was thrown out the back door of the van he was travelling in when it ran off the road in the Arizona desert on December 22, 1985.

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image16of18

Photo of Echo & Bunnymen

Pete de Freitas (second right), Echo And The Bunnymen. A garrulous figure, upon quitting the band, drummer de Freitas once asked for £15,000 restitution for all the cigarettes singer Ian McCulloch had bummed off him over the years. De Freitas died in a motorcycle accident on June 14, 1989 travelling from London to Liverpool. Pic: Redferns

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image17of18

JOHNSON

Robert Johnson. Famous as the enigmatic bluesman who gave rise to the sold-his-soul-to-the-devil myth, Johnson died on August 16, 1938, having been poisoned, possibly by a woman with whom he'd been having an affair.

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image18of18

Mia Zapata (right), The Gits. After leaving a friend’s apartment to head home early in the morning, the lead singer for the Seattle punk band The Gits was raped and murdered in Central District July 7, 1993. Her body was found in a Christ-like position, leading many to believe it was cult killing.